Collapsible poultry-crate.



C. HIGHERS.

GOLLAPSIBLE POULTRY CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED 111111.17, 1914.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

51m/1Mo@ 0.1195971616) iwvojms PETERS C0.. PHom-LITHO., WASHlNGmN l.

C. HIGHERS.

OQLLAPSIBLE POULTRY CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.17, 1914.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

rHE NORR/S PETERS co., PHaT0-LlTHO WASHING FON, n. C.

CHARLES HIGHERS, OF SHERIDAN, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO` .TOI-IN' W. IBEBOUT, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

COLLAPSIBLE POULTRY-CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Application filed March 17, 1914. Serial No. 825,305.

T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES HIGHERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sheridan, in the county of Crittenden and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Boultry-Crates, of which the following 1s a specication.

This invention relates to collapsible poultry crates and it consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a crate of simple and durable structure which may be folded or collapsed when not in use for transportation, storage or other purposes.

With this object in View the crate consists of two sections of the same general pattern or configuration. These sections are provided at their sides and top with spaced bars and the bars of one section lie in the spaces between the bars of the other section and vice versa. The inner end portions of the bars of one section are connected together by cross bars and when the sections are in extended position the inner edges of the said cross bars bear against each other and hold the sections against becoming separated from each other. One section is provided with a detachable door which bears against the cross bar of the other section when the door is closed and assists in holding the sections in extended position. One section is provided with a hinged bottom section which is adapted. to engage the end portion of the other section when the sections are extended and securing means is provided between the said bottom and the section other than that to which it is hinged for holding the bottom in proper position and for holding the section in an extended position. When the sections are folded with relation to each other the said hinged bottom section is adapted to be swung around under the permanently fixed bottom section and may be secured to that section other than the section with which it is hingedly connected whereby it serves as means for holding the parts in folded position.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a top plan view of the crate. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. The other figures are detailed views of the several features thereof.

The crate comprises sections A and B which are of the same general configuration and design. The sides and tops of the said sections A and B are made up of spaced bars l. The bars of one section lie in the spaces between the bars of the other section and vice versa. The bars 1 of the sides and top of the section A are connected together at their inner end portions by cross bars 2 and the inner end portions of the bars 1 of the section B are connected together by cross bars 3. `When the sections A and B are in extended positions with relation to each other the inner edges of the cross bars 2 and 3 are in close contact with each other. The

section A is provided with a permanently ixed bottom section 4 to the edge of which is hingedly attached a bottom section 5. The hinged bottom section 5 is provided at its free end portion and at its opposite edges with hasps 6. When the bottom section 5 is swung into approximately the same plane as that occupied by the bottom section 4 and the sections A and B are extended with relation to each other the hasps 6 may be engaged over staples 7 provided at the outer end portion of the section B and pins 8 or other 4securing devices may be passed through the said staples for the purpose of temporarily holding the hasps 6 in engagement with the same. Other staples 9 are secured to the side cross bars 3 of the section B and when the bottom section 5 is folded back against the lower side of the bottom section l and the sections A and B are collapsed with relation to each other the hasps 6 may be swung up into engagement with the staples 9 and the pins or other securing devices 8 may be passed through the staples 9 whereby the said hasps may be held in engagement with the said staples.

The section A is provided with a cross bar 10 which is secured to the top bars thereof at a line spaced from the cross bars 2. Some of the bars 1 at the top of the section A terminate at the cross bar 10 leaving an opening 11. A detachable door 12 is provided for closing the opening 11 and the said door comprises bars 13 connected together by means of end bars 14. The door 12 is further provided with cross bars 14 located in the vicinity of one end ofthe door and at opposite sides thereof. The bars 14 are not opposite each other transversely of the door as best shown in Fig. 5. Nhen the door 12 is in position over the opening 11 one of the cross bars 14 extends at its ends under the bars 1 at the sides of the opening 11 and the other bar 14; extends over the said bars 1 as indicated in Fig. 1. One of the bars 14C bears against the cross bar 3 of the section B. Consequently the vsaid cross bar 3 cannot move toward the cross bar 10 when the door 12 is in position over the opening 11. A spring pressed slat 15 is carried by the door 12 and is adapted to engage under the cross bar 3 and hold the door in a closed position.

Therefore it will be seen that when the sections A and B are in extended positions the hinged bottom section 5 and the door 12 assist each other in holding` the sections A and B in extended position. l/Vhen the sections A and B are in folded positions and the bottom section 5 is swung back under the bottom section 4 the hasps 6 are engaged with the staples 9 whereby the hinged bottom section holds the sections A and B in folded or collapsed position.

Having described the invention what is claimed is 1. A collapsible crate comprising sections having spaced bars the bars of one section lying in the spaces between the bars of the other section and vice versa, a bottom section permanently fixed to one of the first mentioned sections, a hinged bottom section mounted upon the said fixed bottom section, and means for securing the free end portion y of the hinged bottom section to the opposite ends of that section'having the spaced bars other than the section to which the fixed bottom section is attached.

2. A collapsible crate comprising body sections having spaced bars, the bars of one section lying in the spaces between the bars of the other section and vice versa, a bottom section fixed to one of the body sections, a section hingedly connected with said bottom section, means carried at the free end portion of said hinged bottom section for engagement with the inner or outer ends of that body section other than the body section with which the fixed bottom section is connected, an opening provided in one of the body sections, a detachable door for closing the opening and when in position engaging the other section .and serving to assist in holding the body sections in extended position.

3. A collapsible crate comprising body sections having spaced bars, the bars of one section lying in the spaces between the bars of 'the other section and vice versa, a bottom section fixed to one of the body sections, a hinged bottom section connected with the first mentioned bottom section and adapted to swing under the other body section, that body section to which the bottom section is fixed being provided at its top with an opening, a door detachably closing the opening and when in position in the opening bearing at one edge against the adjacent end of the other body section and serving to hold the sections in extended position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES HIGHERS.

Witnesses:

MYRTIE HIGHERS, RAY WILLIAMS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissionerof Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

